Agricultural rolling basket bearing assembly

Abstract

An agricultural tillage implement includes a frame member and at least one rolling basket assembly coupled to the frame member. The rolling basket assembly has at least one bearing hanger, at least one rolling basket and at least one bearing assembly rotationally coupling the rolling basket to the bearing hanger. The bearing assembly has a bearing with an inner ring and a spindle holding the inner ring. The spindle is coupled to the bearing hanger. The spindle being configured to accommodate dynamic misalignment of the bearing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of accommodating flexing of a rotating element of an agricultural implement, comprising the steps of:
 providing the rotating element including a rolling basket coupled to a bearing hanger carried by the agricultural implement, the rolling basket including components which are required to flex during field operation; 
 providing a bearing with an opening therethrough; 
 providing a resilient spindle carried by a fastener coupled to the bearing hanger, the resilient spindle including a resilient shoulder positioned between the bearing holder and the bearing; 
 positioning the bearing via the opening therein on the resilient spindle, a side of the bearing being positioned next to the resilient shoulder; 
 providing a gap between the bearing and at least one component positioned on the resilient spindle to permit movement of the bearing on the resilient spindle; 
 accommodating flexing of the components of the rolling basket in field operation by tilting and dynamically misaligning the bearing, one side of the bearing contacting the resilient shoulder during dynamic misalignment; and 
 preventing excessive dynamic misalignment of the bearing during field operation by flexing the resilient spindle to prevent excessive wear of the bearing. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises providing a washer constrained on an end of the fastener against an end of the resilient spindle, the washer extending beyond the resilient spindle, and wherein an opposite side of the bearing contacts the washer during dynamic misalignment of the bearing. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient spindle and the resilient shoulder are made of a urethane material. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient spindle and the resilient shoulder are made of a rubberized plastic.